Reversing valve for a filter arrangement with at least two filter chambers

ABSTRACT

A filter arrangement includes at least two filter chambers that are alternately impinged upon through the activation of a reversing valve, a manually operated reversing lever, a compensation valve which can be activated for pressure compensation between the filter chambers, and a detent device to enable the reversing valve to be activate in dependence on the activation of the compensation valve. The reversing lever is configured in the form of a two-armed pivoted lever mounted on the reversing valve so that it can pivot such that the lever arm facing away from the handle part of the reversing lever activates the compensation valve during the pivoting movement. The second lever arm forms the handle part and moves the detent device out of its locking position and into the release position enabling the activation of the reversing valve.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a filter arrangement having at leasttwo filter chambers which can be alternately impinged upon by activationof a reversing valve. The reversing valve can be set in thecorresponding suitable positions upon rotation. The rotatable valve partis connected with a reversing lever having a manually operable handlepart. A compensation valve can be activated to provide pressurecompensation between the filter chambers. A detent device can beconverted into a locking position blocking the rotary movement of thevalve part and dependent upon activation of the compensation valve canbe converted into a release position permitting the rotary movement ofthe valve part.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Facilitating activation of a filter arrangement using only one hand isintended to avoid requiring that the operator to use both hands toactivate the reversing procedure, which two-handed procedure involvesone hand to rotate ht reversing lever and a second hand to hold thedetent device in the release setting. A filter arrangement allowingone-handed reversal is disclosed in DE 40 11 419 C2. An operating memberof the detent device is mounted movably on the reversing lever suchthat, with gripping of the handle part of the reversing lever, thisoperating member can be engaged simultaneously with the engagement ofthe handle part of the reversing lever and can be moved into theposition corresponding with the release position of the detent device.

With this previously disclosed filter arrangement, the advantage of thepossibility of one-hand manual activation must be purchased at the costof the involvement of the necessary, but cumbersome, structure of thereversing lever. On the handle part of the reversing lever, theactivation member of the detent device is arranged movably as anadditional structural part and is pre-biased by a spring arrangement inthe position corresponding to the detent or locking position of thedetent device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Objects of the present invention are to provide a filter arrangementhaving a simplified structure that can be operated to reverse with theoperator using only one hand.

The foregoing objects are attained with a filter arrangement having areversing lever constructed in the form of a double-armed pivot leverand mounted on the valve part with its pivot axis perpendicular to itsrotary axis. In this manner, its lever arm part more distant from thehandle part, during the pivot movement, impinges upon the compensationvalve. The second lever arm forming the handle part during the pivotmovement of the reversing lever activating the compensation valveconverts or moves the detent device out of the locking position into therelease position.

The two-armed pivot lever is provided as reversing lever. This pivotlever is connected with the valve part of the reversing valve uponrotation, and is pivotally movable relative to the valve part. Thereversing lever, although it represents a structure of solely one part,performs three functions. These functions include first of all thereversing function for the reversing valve by rotation of its valvepart. Secondly, the pivot movement occurring relative to the valve partcauses the reversing lever with the second lever arm forming the handlepart to unlock and release the detent device. Simultaneously, as a thirdfunction, the other lever arm activates the compensation valve. In otherwords, the present invention allows activation using one single hand asa result of the one-part construction of the reversing lever, including,without requiring, a movably arranged, spring-biased activation memberthereon. This sort of member is required in the conventional filterarrangement for cooperation with the detent device arrangement and withthe compensation valve.

In one preferred exemplary embodiment, the detent device has a detentstud projecting outward toward the housing of the filter arrangement.The stud engages force-locking in both of the positions of the reversingvalve in each case in a complementary facing detent notch. The detentnotch is constructed on the filter housing. In the case of pivotalmovement of the reversing lever activating the compensation valve, thedetent stud comes free from the relevant facing detent notch.

Preferably, the arrangement, for the activation of the compensationvalve, the lever arm of the reversing lever which is more distant fromthe handle part bears upon a valve tamping rod of the compensationvalve. The tamping rod can be pre-biased for force-locking engagementwith the associated lever arm of the reversing lever by a springarrangement. The reversing lever is pushed by the spring arrangementsimultaneously in the pivotal position corresponding to the detent lockposition of the detent device.

Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description, which,taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front elevational view, partially in section,of a filter arrangement according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view in section of the valve arrangementtaken along line II—II of FIG. 1 in an operation position withoutactivation of the compensation valve; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view in section of the valve arrangementtaken along line II—II of FIG. 1 in the same operation position as FIG.2, but with activation of the compensation valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the top part of a filter arrangement with two filterchambers 1 and 2 and a top housing 3. The top housing incorporatesconnections 5 and 6 for feed-in and discharge of the medium to befiltered, respectively. Also, in housing 3, a reversing device 7 isprovided which allows either filter chamber 1 or filter chamber 2 to beplaced in operation selectively. More details of the reversing device 7are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3.

As indicated in these drawings, the reversing device includes areversing valve arrangement having a reversing valve 11 rotatable arounda rotary axis 9. The reversing valve body has recesses 13 in itsinterior to open the flow path through either filter chamber 1 or filterchamber 2 according to the position of valve rotation. Within the bodyof reversing valve 11, a compensation valve 15 is integrated in the formof a spring-biased ball or check valve. The compensation valve can beimpinged upon or engaged by a tamping rod 17, likewise pre-biased by aspring 14. This tamping rod can be thrust counter to the force of spring14 in a longitudinal direction. The axis 19 of this tamping rod thrustmovement extends at some distance from and parallel to rotary axis 9 ofthe reversing valve.

FIG. 2 shows the compensation valve 15 in a non-operational lockedstate. FIG. 3 shows the compensation valve 15 in an operational state,whereby a flow passage 21 allowing for pressure compensation betweenfilter chambers 1 and 2 is opened.

A manually operable reversing lever 23 is provided for activation ofreversing device 7 and is arranged on reversing valve 11. The reversinglever is connected with the reversing valve for concurrent rotarymovability around rotary axis 9, and is pivotal relative to reversingvalve 11 around a pivot axis 25 perpendicular to rotary axis 9.Reversing lever 23 forms a two-armed pivot lever with a short lever arm27 and a long lever arm which is configured as handle part 29 for themanipulation of reversing lever 23. The short lever arm 27 engages theexterior of tamping rod 17 of compensation valve 15. Spring 14 causesthe frictional connection between tamping rod 17 and lever arm 27. Thereversing lever 23, on the basis of the biasing spring, assumes thepivot position shown in FIG. 2, in which the reversing valve 11 ofreversing device 7 is located in one of two positions for the activationof one of the two filter chambers 1 or 2. With this pivot position ofreversing lever 23, a detent study 31, configured on the interior of thehandle part 29 facing housing 3, engages in force-locking connection ina detent notch 33, to block rotation of reversing valve 11 around rotaryaxis 9.

To reverse reversing device 7, the operator grasps handle part 29 ofreversing lever 23 and pivots this part counter to the effect of spring14 on tamping rod 17 and on the short lever arm 27 in the direction awayfrom housing 3. Detent stud 31 moves out of and away from notch 33.Simultaneously, the movement of lever arm 27 activates compensationvalve 15 to produce the pressure compensation balance between filterchambers 1 and 2. With detent stud 31 being raised up, reversing lever23 is now released allowing rotation of reversing valve 11 around rotaryaxis 9 to accomplish the reversing process. When the position foractivation of the alternate filter chamber 1 or 2 has been attained, thehandle part 29 need only be released, so that detent stud 31 found onhandle part 29 of reversing lever 23 drops back under the influence ofspring 14 into the alternate position in the notch 33 associated withthe alternate position. Thus, reversing lever 23 again assumes thelocked pivot position shown in FIG. 2, in which position compensationvalve 15 is closed.

While an embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the invention, it willbe understood by those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications can be made therein without departing from the scope ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A filter arrangement, comprising first and secondfilter chambers in a filter housing; a reversing valve in fluidcommunication with said filter chambers and moveable between first andsecond positions for alternatively and selectively actuating said firstand second filter chambers, respectively, said valve including a valvepart rotatable about a rotary axis; a reversing lever coupled to saidvalve part for simultaneous rotation with said valve part about saidrotary axis, said reversing lever having a first lever arm and a secondlever arm forming a manually operable handle part and being pivotablerelative to said valve part about a pivot axis perpendicular to saidrotary axis; a compensation valve within said reversing valvecontrolling fluid pressure compensation between said filter chambers,said compensation valve being activated by pivoting of said reversinglever; and a detent device on said reversing lever movable betweenlocking and release positions permitting and preventing rotation of saidvalve part respectively, by pivoting of said reversing lever, such thatsaid compensation valve is activated when said detent device is moved tothe release position.
 2. A filter arrangement according to claim 1wherein said detent device comprises a detent surface on said handlepart of said reversing lever, said detent surface engaging in aforce-locking manner first and second detents in said filter housing insaid first and second positions of said reversing valve, respectively,said detent surface being released from the respective detent upon pivotmovement of said reversing lever activating said compensation valve. 3.A filter arrangement according to claim 2 wherein said detent surface onsaid handle part comprises a pre-biased detent stud; and said first andsecond detents comprise notches in said filter housing.
 4. A filterarrangement according to claim 3 wherein a valve tapering rod is mountedin said valve part and can be thrust along an axis parallel to saidrotary axis by said lever arm upon pivoting of said reversing lever toactivate said compensation valve.
 5. A filter arrangement according toclaim 2 wherein a valve tapering rod is mounted in said valve part andcan be thrust along an axis parallel to said rotary axis by said leverarm upon pivoting of said reversing lever to activate said compensationvalve.
 6. A filter arrangement according to claim 1 wherein a valvetapering rod is mounted in said valve part and can be thrust along anaxis parallel to said rotary axis by said lever arm upon pivoting ofsaid reversing lever to activate said compensation valve.
 7. A filterarrangement according to claim 6 wherein said valve tampering rod ispre-biased by a spring working counter to movement of said valvetampering rod for opening said compensation valve and biasing said leverarm of said reversing lever to pivot towards said locking position ofsaid detent device.
 8. A filter arrangement according to claim 5 whereinsaid valve tampering rod is pre-biased by a spring working counter tomovement of said valve tampering rod for opening said compensation valveand biasing said lever arm of said reversing lever to pivot towards saidlocking position of said detent device.
 9. A filter arrangementaccording to claim 4 wherein said valve tampering rod is pre-biased by aspring working counter to movement of said valve tampering rod foropening said compensation valve and biasing said lever arm of saidreversing lever to pivot towards said locking position of said detentdevice.
 10. A filter arrangement according to claim 9 wherein saidcompensation valve is incorporated into said valve part of saidreversing valve, said valve part being rotatable.
 11. A filterarrangement according to claim 8 wherein said compensation valve isincorporated into said valve part of said reversing valve, said valvepart being rotatable.
 12. A filter arrangement according to claim 7wherein said compensation valve is incorporated into said valve part ofsaid reversing valve, said valve part being rotatable.
 13. A filterarrangement according to claim 6 wherein said compensation valve isincorporated into said valve part of said reversing valve, said valvepart being rotatable.
 14. A filter arrangement according to claim 5wherein valve said compensation valve is incorporated into said valvepart of said reversing valve, said a valve part being rotatable.
 15. Afilter arrangement according to claim 4 wherein said compensation valveis incorporated into said valve part of said reversing valve, said valvepart being rotatable.
 16. A filter arrangement according to claim 15wherein said compensation valve comprises a spring-biased ball or checkvalve.
 17. A filter arrangement according to claim 14 wherein saidcompensation valve comprises a spring-biased ball or check valve.
 18. Afilter arrangement according to claim 13 wherein said compensation valvecomprises a spring-biased ball or check valve.
 19. A filter arrangementaccording to claim 12 wherein said compensation valve comprises aspring-biased ball or check valve.
 20. A filter arrangement according toclaim 11 wherein said compensation valve comprises a spring-biased ballor check valve.
 21. A filter arrangement according to claim 10 whereinsaid compensation valve comprises a spring-biased ball or check valve.